EVs > Plug-ins > 3Prong Power Upgrades Any Prius to Plug-in Status - Toyota is leasing 500 prototype plug-in hybrid Prius’s to lucky recipients next year, but what about other Prius owners who want to plug in? Enter 3Prong Power, a Berkeley, California startup that offers plug-in hybrid conversions for first, second and third generation Prius’s as well as the Ford Escape Hybrid. (Inhabitat; Oct. 27, 2009)

EVs > Battery Chargers > Drawing power from the road - Engineering company Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr (IAV) is looking to embed roads with electrical conductors that would “refuel” the electric cars of the future while they are driving or are parked. Inductive loops buried in the roadway would generate a magnetic field to supply the cars with energy without the need for cables and connectors. (GizMag; October 1, 2009)

Grid / EVs > Plug-ins > Delaware Paying Electric Car Owners to Power Grid - A newly signed law is said to make Delaware, USA, the first entity in the world to reward owners of electric cars with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, making V2G vehicles work like an electrical sponge, capable of absorbing excess energy when demand for power is low, and returning some back to the electric grid when the demand for power is high, paid/charged at the same rate. (Newswise; Sept. 21, 2009)

EVs > 9 Electric Cars That Were The Buzz of Frankfurt Auto Show - According to the NY Times, the auto show seemed to be a contest between the auto makers to get out their "greener-than-thou" messages. Tree Hugger breaks the presentations down into those that will be built for sure, followed by the maybes, then "for show only". See also their photo gallery. (TreeHugger; Sept. 21, 2009) (Wide array of stories on the electric component of the Frankfurt show)

EVs > Hybrids > Caterpillar Builds World’s First Hybrid Bulldozer - The D7E represents a mid-range dozer between Caterpillar’s popular D6 and D8 models, and commands a price premium of 20%, or $100,000, over a standard D7R. But that 20% can be recouped in as little as two years thanks to fuel savings of 10-30%. Plus, the electric-diesel drive system offers better power than its predecessor. (Gas 2.0; Sept. 18, 2009)

Trends / Hybrids > Americans Want More Fuel-Efficient Cars, US Hybrids Up 48% - Total US hybrid sales jumped 48.6% in August from last August, buoyed up by Cash for Clunkers. Americans did the patriotic thing with their clunker money, buying more American, and buying more hybrid cars. Ford was the big winner, making a big dent in Toyota’s hybrid sales. (Gas 2.0; September 8, 2009)

Electric Cars > Nissan Unveils All-Electric LEAF - Nissan's all-electric LEAF, slated to launch in late 2010 in Japan, the US, and Europe, will have a 100-mile range, seat 5, have an advanced computer system with remote control by IPhone, and promises to be competitively priced. Recharge time is 8 hours with a 200-volt power source, and just under 30 minutes with a quick charger to charge to 80% of capacity. (Reuters; Aug. 3, 2009)

Electric Cars > 10 Minute Charge for Student-Built Electric Car - Some MIT students are woking on an EV prototype called the elEVen that could be charged in just 10 minutes, but would require 350 kW of power, so special charging stations would also have to be built. The lithium iron-phosphate batteries aren't cheap either, bringing the vehicle's sticker price to the range of $80,000 USD. (Alt. Energy News; July 30, 2009)

2008

2009: Year of the Electric Car - Although the electric cars will initially appear in limited numbers and likely in restricted regions of the US while manufacturers, dealers and customers get comfortable with the technology, here is some of what you can expect to see begin rolling down America roads starting in 2009. (EV World; Dec. 31, 2008)

Japan Moves to Become Electric Vehicle Testing Ground - Japan wants to make recharging electric cars as easy as filling a gas tank. The country is hosting the EV evangelists from electric-vehicle startup Better Place, encouraging them to build battery-exchange stations that might bring cars with cords into the mainstream. (Wired; Dec. 9, 2008)

Londoner tries out the new Th!nk city EV - Th!nk is type approved in Europe as an actual car, has been crash tested and meets safety requirements. The lithium polymer battery will provide a range of 125 miles on a charge and the top speed is 65mph. It's fitted with air bags, seat belts and even ABS. Th!nk will be selling the car in the UK for £14,000. (AutoblogGreen; Feb. 29, 2008)

Milner to Introduce E-REV Prototype - Milner Motors ElectriCar is an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, based on the design of the flying AirCar. It is a lightweight vehicle designed to cruise 100 miles on battery power at speeds up to 85 mph, after which the batteries will be charged by a gasoline-powered generator, achieving 100 mpg. (Green Car Congress; Feb. 24, 2008)

Plug-in Car Tech's Race to Production - Flashy concepts and expensive, limited edition sports cars have made the plug-in car market an attractive one. Now major car companies from Detroit to Japan are outsourcing for chemistry and spending big bucks in-house to put low-cost, high-power packs of lithium-ion in larger production fleets by 2010 or 2011. (Popular Mechanics; Feb. 6, 2008)

Zotye electric SUV just 60 Days Away! - Spark EV will be delivering the Zotye electric SUV in 60 DAYS and a "fuel cell" upgrade will be available this August. This highway-speed electric SUV will sell for $20,000 and have a 100-mile range! (AutoblogGreen; Feb. 5, 2008)

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Meet the duraCar Innovan, an EV van from the Netherlands - The duraCar Innovan is made from light recyclable fiber. The Dutch NEV van is aimed at companies who need to make local deliveries. Driving range is claimed to be 150 km (90 miles) thanks to the vehicle's low weight, and driving cost is very low: 3.5-4.7 cents a mile. (AutoblogGreen; Jan. 28, 2008)

JV for EVs in Thailand - Leo Motors, based in Korea, and Global Electric Motor Cars Asia, based in Thailand, entering into a joint venture for the development of new electric vehicles. The first project is a 3-wheel electric motorcycle for the Thai Police Department. Leo Motors has developed a line of seven different EVs in the last two years. GEMA is the largest electric car dealer in Thailand. (Green Car Congress; Jan. 17, 2008)

2008 model of Flybo electric car will include heater - Chinese Smart electric car clone FlyBo will have a heater added to the 2008 model. Great Lakes dealership in the U.S. is selling the Flybo and getting a lot of response from Florida and Arizona. Flybo has a range of 70 to 100 miles, top speed of 42 miles per hour and you can pick one up for $10,000. (AutoblogGreen; Jan. 6, 2008)

Kenguru, specialized electric car for disabled people - Kenguru, an electric car specifically designed for a wheelchair, has a large door at the back that opens by remote control. The Hungarian company Rehab Ltd. designed the Kenguru, which has a 35-mile range and a top speed of 25 miles per hour. The car is free in Hungary for qualified people and is expected to come to the United States for $14,500. (AutoblogGreen; Jan. 3, 2008)

Third-generation G-Wiz electric vehicle launched - UK electric vehicle retailer GoinGreen has announced the release of the latest incarnation of its G-Wiz range. Known as G-Wiz i, the emission free electric vehicle (EV) that has a certified top speed of 50mph, a range of up to 48 miles per charge and improved acceleration to 30mph. (GizMag; Jan. 2, 2008)